TV Drama: Nobuta Wo Produce

Yes! We have only been too familiar with the storyline about an ugly duckling turned into swan and finally get the handsome prince.

Even though I have to admit, that kind of storyline will always gets my attention every time, as if one version of it wasn't enough; that was what happened to me when I bought the copy of this TV dorama.

The synopsis told me about Nobuko Kotani a new student in a senior high school where Shuji Kiritani and Akira Kusano have been passing their two-going on-three years of their teen life.

As you already can guess, Nobuko was weird, geeky, new girl who easily attracted the class’ bullies; smiling was so a rare action for her, that at one time, Shuji actually asked her whether her stomach was hurting after seeing the girl’s face. It turned out afterwards that the weird expression was her attempt to smile.

Shuji on the other hand was the popular boy at school; he managed to have his own crowd and supporters and was dating Mariko, the most popular girl in school. Akira was “the rebel without a cause” who always seemed to be “high” on something judging from his unstable moves; but as the story developed, it turned out that the something was non-chemical; all were owed to his own charming self’s personality. Somehow Akira always thought that he’s Shuji’s friend, while Shuji always found Akira totally annoying.

The title “Nobuta wo Produce” itself means Producing Nobuta. By strange fate, Shuji and Akira get together to become producers of Nobuko, who later on would go by the name Nobuta, the name the two boys had made up for her. Shuji was supplying the tips in becoming popular, while Akira, who turned out to be the only son of a wealthy businessman, naturally, supplied the funds (for clothes, beauty salon, etc).

What made me stay through the ten episodes was the fact that the story didn’t focused on making Nobuta the beautiful princess and then The End, they all live happily ever after. And this, was a fresh point a view, I thought. Oh yes, Nobuta had her make-over. When somebody ruined her school uniform, her producers decided that they could take advantage of this: Nobuta would get the pass to wear “her own clothes”. So the three of them shopped away! And at the morrow, Nobuta showed up at school, very tastefully dressed and wearing a fabulous new hair! I was kind of surprised to see the make over was already happening at the beginning of the episodes. But later on I understand, “making a typical popular person” was not the main theme of this dorama.

As the story flowed, we became aware that taking a role as the popular person was not all-fun-happy-cheery task. While producing Nobuta, Shuji was becoming more and more aware that every single day in his life was based on lies only; lies that he continued to tell in order to preserve other’s good opinions on him. How exhausting is that?!?! In reverse, Nobuta was becoming more self-accepting and comfortable with her unique self. Akira was also looking more stable when he found two people who were willing to acknowledge him for what he was and needing his help. Problems then seemed to come tumbling one after another, the three of them realized that somebody knew about the Nobuta wo Produce Project and aiming to destroyed it.

There will be no school dorama without love affairs: Shuji have to be honest to Mariko, that he didn’t really like her, he only maintained the relationship to withhold his reputation. Akira was finding himself falling for Nobuta, while he was certain that Nobuta has feelings for Shuji. Was Shuji actually felt for Nobuta too? Who will Nobuta choose between her closest friends?

The climax for the main problem in the story was sadly felt a bit neglected, leaving the ending dry and all alone. The tension surrounding every element in the storyline was somehow built quite nicely but then… I don’t know… was left to waste, perhaps? And then I missed the emotion-rollercoaster I expected to ride every time I watched a good dorama; you know, when you laughed and then cry and then laughed again stuffs…. Well, it was still entertaining enough… Nobuta Power, Chu-IN!

Casts: Kazuya Kamenashi (Kat-tun), Tomohisa Yamashita, Maki Horikita Language: Japanese Duration: 10 episodes Source: yeasasia.com; www.ilbondrama.net